(1)或(者);还是(joining alternatives)： She～I have to bring it.她或我必须把它带来。It's now～never.Shall we chance it? 这种事机不可失，时不再来。我们碰碰运气好吗? I'll accept tomatoes，(～)lettuce～carrots.我可以吃蕃茄，(或)生菜或胡萝卜。Is it Monday～Tuesday?今天是星期一，还是星期二?

(2)否则，要不然(if not;otherwise)：Decide now～I'll give it to Peter.你现在就决定，要不然我就把它给彼得了。

(3)也不(and neither)(用于否定词后)：He doesn't smoke～drink.他不抽烟，也不喝酒。His chief trouble was that he did not know any editors～writers.他的主要难题是他既不认识任何编辑，也不认识任何作家。

(4)即，就是，或者说(that is;that means)(用于引出一同义词语)：botany，～the science of plants植物学，即研究植物的科学;twelve～a dozen 12个，亦即一打;The company is paying the rent～at least contri-buting to it.该公司在付房租，或者说，至少在设法付房租。

(5)会不会(introducing an afterthought)：He obviously knows the reason—～is he bluffing?他显然知道为什么——他会不会在虚张声势?

or else 1)否则，要不然：Get up～else you'll be late.快起床，否则你会迟到的。2)否则将承担一切后果(infml)：Do as I tell you，～else.照我的话去做，否则后果自负。

or rather 确切地说：He arrived late last night，～rather in the early hours this mor-ning.他昨天夜里很晚才到达，确切地说是今天清早才到的。

or so 大约：I want a hundred～so.我要100个左右。

or somebody/something/somewhere;so-mebody/something/somewhere or other(infml)大概是……这类人(事物);在……这类地方等：He's an engineer～something.他大概是工程师之类的人。They're going away to Geneva～somewhere.他们即将去日内瓦或别的什么地方。

or two或更多;大约(用于单数名词之后)：They walked a mile～two.他们走了一两英里。